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Forestry Note:
Recovering From Wildfire
A Guide for Oklahoma Forest Owners
1 of 8
Wildfire! What Do I Do Now?
Wildfire is the disaster many forest owners fear. If you are reading this, it has probably happened to you
or someone close to you. Fire may have burned all or part of your property, and you’re left wondering
“What should I do now?”
Soon after the fire is out, it’s time to start making some decisions. Although it may appear that the worst
has happened, there are things an owner can do to protect their property from further impact, to
recoup some of the loss, and to restore damaged forests and woodlands to a healthy condition.
This publication discusses some issues property owners should consider following a wildfire, including:
How to protect valuable property from erosion damage;
Where to go for help and financial assistance;
How to remove or salvage trees that were lost or damaged;
How to claim a casualty loss on tax returns; and
How to recover from wildfire damage.
Assessing Resource Damage
One of the keys to wildfire recovery is damage assessment. Actions to be taken, such as erosion control
and replanting, will depend heavily on the amount of damage caused by the wildfire. Soon after the
fire, it is important to determine the intensity of the fire as it burned across the property.
Wildfires can be very destructive. However, most fires actually burn at low intensity on much of the
affected area, with only occasional pockets of moderate to high-intensity burn. On occasion, fires do
burn at high intensity over large areas, especially under extreme conditions of high temperature, low
relative humidity, dry vegetation, low soil moisture, and/or strong winds. Low-intensity fires can produce
benefits to plant communities that evolved with fire as part of the natural system. These fires reduce
underbrush, thin out young, closely-spaced trees, improve wildlife forage, and reduce fuel levels;
thereby, lessening the chance for future high-intensity wildfires.
Low-intensity fires may damage or destroy small trees, but generally do not burn the entire forest
canopy. Most leaves or needles remain on trees, even though some may be singed and the lower
branches may be scorched. The ground is still partially covered by old needles, leaves, and decaying
wood. In most cases, these fires are beneficial to maintaining a healthy forest.
Moderate-intensity fires burn into the forest canopy and consume the needles and leaves from many
trees, but not all. They also consume a portion of the ground cover. Because moderate-intensity fires
typically leave the biggest and most vigorous trees alive, some forest cover will remain.
High-intensity fires consume 50% to 100% of the forest canopy and everything on the forest floor. The
resulting ash is white or gray and the soil loses its protection from rainfall and erosion. Depending on soil
type, fire intensity, and vegetation burned, a water-repellent or hydrophobic layer may form near the
soil surface that will decrease water absorption and increase runoff and soil erosion—especially in the
first rains following the fire.

Forestry Note:
Recovering From Wildfire
A Guide for Oklahoma Forest Owners
1 of 8
Wildfire! What Do I Do Now?
Wildfire is the disaster many forest owners fear. If you are reading this, it has probably happened to you
or someone close to you. Fire may have burned all or part of your property, and you’re left wondering
“What should I do now?”
Soon after the fire is out, it’s time to start making some decisions. Although it may appear that the worst
has happened, there are things an owner can do to protect their property from further impact, to
recoup some of the loss, and to restore damaged forests and woodlands to a healthy condition.
This publication discusses some issues property owners should consider following a wildfire, including:
How to protect valuable property from erosion damage;
Where to go for help and financial assistance;
How to remove or salvage trees that were lost or damaged;
How to claim a casualty loss on tax returns; and
How to recover from wildfire damage.
Assessing Resource Damage
One of the keys to wildfire recovery is damage assessment. Actions to be taken, such as erosion control
and replanting, will depend heavily on the amount of damage caused by the wildfire. Soon after the
fire, it is important to determine the intensity of the fire as it burned across the property.
Wildfires can be very destructive. However, most fires actually burn at low intensity on much of the
affected area, with only occasional pockets of moderate to high-intensity burn. On occasion, fires do
burn at high intensity over large areas, especially under extreme conditions of high temperature, low
relative humidity, dry vegetation, low soil moisture, and/or strong winds. Low-intensity fires can produce
benefits to plant communities that evolved with fire as part of the natural system. These fires reduce
underbrush, thin out young, closely-spaced trees, improve wildlife forage, and reduce fuel levels;
thereby, lessening the chance for future high-intensity wildfires.
Low-intensity fires may damage or destroy small trees, but generally do not burn the entire forest
canopy. Most leaves or needles remain on trees, even though some may be singed and the lower
branches may be scorched. The ground is still partially covered by old needles, leaves, and decaying
wood. In most cases, these fires are beneficial to maintaining a healthy forest.
Moderate-intensity fires burn into the forest canopy and consume the needles and leaves from many
trees, but not all. They also consume a portion of the ground cover. Because moderate-intensity fires
typically leave the biggest and most vigorous trees alive, some forest cover will remain.
High-intensity fires consume 50% to 100% of the forest canopy and everything on the forest floor. The
resulting ash is white or gray and the soil loses its protection from rainfall and erosion. Depending on soil
type, fire intensity, and vegetation burned, a water-repellent or hydrophobic layer may form near the
soil surface that will decrease water absorption and increase runoff and soil erosion—especially in the
first rains following the fire.